Washing device

Abstract

To solve a problem that twisting or the like occurs in a support part supporting a cleaning unit.SOLUTION: A cleaning device (1) includes a cleaning unit (20) and a guide rail (10). The guide rail includes: a storage part (11) storing a guide roller (23) therein and having at least a part of one side surface opened; and a folded part (12) located in a lower part of the storage part. At least a part of the guide rail is attached with a reinforcing tool (13) that connects the storage part and the folded part from the outside of the guide rail.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses car wash equipment for cleaning a garbage collection vehicle (packer vehicle).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a cleaning device as described in Patent Document 1, since a cleaning unit having nozzles or the like is heavy, there is a possibility that torsion or the like may occur in a support portion that supports the cleaning unit.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, a cleaning device according to an aspect of the present invention is a cleaning device for cleaning a vehicle, comprising: a cleaning unit having a plurality of nozzles for injecting a cleaning liquid; and a guide rail that extends in the vehicle length direction of the vehicle, supports the cleaning unit at a position separated from the placement surface of the vehicle, and guides the movement of the cleaning unit. The guide rail has a housing portion that houses guide rollers that roll with respect to the guide rail inside, and at least a part of one side surface is open along the longitudinal direction, and a turning portion located below the housing portion. At least a part of the guide rail is provided with a reinforcing member that connects the housing portion and the turning portion from the outside of the guide rail.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, the possibility of twisting occurring in the guide rail when the load of the cleaning unit is applied to the guide rail can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between a washing device and a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a side view of a cleaning device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a top view of a cleaning device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning device at the position indicated as IV-IV. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] [Embodiment] The following describes a washing device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 4. In the following description and the attached drawings, the vehicle length direction of a vehicle X parked at the car wash position is defined as the front-rear direction. The car wash position is the position where the vehicle X is washed by the washing device 1. At this time, the forward direction of the vehicle X parked at the car wash position is defined as the front, and the reverse direction is defined as the rear. Alternatively, the direction in which the vehicle X is parked relative to the washing device 1 is defined as the front. The vehicle width direction of the vehicle X is defined as the width direction, and the vehicle height direction of the vehicle X is defined as the up-down direction. The up-down direction is perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the width direction, and the front-rear direction is perpendicular to the width direction. The width direction may also be interpreted as the left-right direction.

[0009] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the washing device 1 and the vehicle X located at the car wash position. For illustrative purposes, Figure 1 shows the washing unit 20 of the washing device 1 in both a first position A and a second position B. The same applies to Figure 2. The washing device 1 washes the vehicle X parked at the car wash position. The vehicle X may be driven by a driver to the car wash position. The vehicle X is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a regular passenger car, a large vehicle such as a truck or bus, or a special vehicle such as a dump truck or a garbage truck. Figures 1 to 3 illustrate the case where the vehicle X is a garbage truck.

[0010] Figure 2 is a side view of the cleaning device 1. Figure 3 is a top view of the cleaning device 1. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cleaning device 1 comprises two guide rails 10, a beam 32, a cleaning unit 20, an operation panel 26, a reinforcing member 13, an intermediate support column 30, and a rear support column 31.

[0011] The guide rails 10 extend in the direction of the vehicle length of the vehicle X, and a pair of guide rails 10 are arranged so as to sandwich the vehicle X when it is positioned at the car wash location. The guide rails 10 support the washing unit 20, which will be described later, at a position away from the mounting surface (ground) of the vehicle X, and also guide the movement of the washing unit 20. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the guide rails 10 are arranged horizontally and parallel to each other at the same height, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Furthermore, the guide rails 10 are separated from each other by a distance that is at least greater than the width of the vehicle X.

[0012] The beam 32 connects and fixes the rear ends of the guide rails 10 together. The beam 32 extends in the left-right direction and may have a rectangular prism shape, for example. Both ends of the beam 32 are connected to the rear ends of the two guide rails 10.

[0013] The intermediate support 30 and the rear support 31 support the guide rail 10. As shown in Figure 2, the intermediate support 30 and the rear support 31 are columns erected in the ground and extending in the vertical direction. Each guide rail 10 is supported by the intermediate support 30 and the rear support 31. The intermediate support 30 is located towards the front of the guide rail 10 and away from its front end. The rear support 31 is located behind the guide rail 10. The intermediate support 30 and the rear support 31 may be fixed to the ground using fasteners such as bolts. Because the intermediate support 30 is located away from the front end of the guide rail 10, the guide rail 10 has an overhang portion 100 that protrudes forward from the connection point between the intermediate support 30 and the guide rail 10.

[0014] The cleaning unit 20 sprays cleaning fluid. The cleaning unit 20 is positioned so as to be suspended between two guide rails 10, as shown in Figure 3. In other words, the cleaning unit 20 is supported between the guide rails 10, at a position away from the ground. The cleaning unit 20 moves in the front-rear direction along the guide rails 10. The main body 20A of the cleaning unit 20 may be configured to be rotatable by obtaining power from a motor 24 shown in Figure 3, with a shaft 27 extending in the left-right direction as the axis of rotation.

[0015] The first position A shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be a position corresponding to the rear end of the movement range of the cleaning unit 20. The first position A may be the standby position of the cleaning unit 20 and may be a position that overlaps with the rear support column 31 in a side view. The second position B may be a position corresponding to the front end of the movement range of the cleaning unit 20. The second position B is located in the overhang portion 100.

[0016] By moving the cleaning unit 20 between the first position A and the second position B, the vehicle X can be efficiently cleaned. For example, when the vehicle X is a packer truck, as shown in FIG. 1, the hopper at the rear of the packer truck opens and closes. Since the cleaning unit 20 can move to the first position A, the cleaning unit 20 can be retracted when the hopper of the packer truck opens and closes. Also, since the cleaning unit 20 can move to the second position B, the cleaning unit 20 can be moved below the hopper 3 when the hopper is opened, and the interior of the packer truck can be effectively cleaned.

[0017] The cleaning unit 20 includes a main body portion 20A having a plurality of cleaning nozzles 21, and a moving member 28 that holds the cleaning unit 20 and moves along the guide rail 10 together with the cleaning unit 20. The cleaning nozzle 21 injects cleaning liquid from the tip of the cleaning nozzle 21. The moving member 2 has guide rollers 23 that roll with respect to the guide rail 10. The moving member 28 may be configured to be movable along the guide rail 10 by being connected to, for example, a chain or a belt that is arranged along the guide rail 10 and rotated by a motor 25. The motor 25 may be arranged, for example, on the beam 32. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the moving member 28 and the guide rollers 23 are actually hidden behind the guide rail 10, but are shown explicitly for the purpose of explanation.

[0018] The main body portion 20A of the cleaning unit 20 may be suspended below the guide rail 10 by a suspension tool 22 connected to the moving member 28. The suspension tool 22 extends from the moving member 28 toward the inner lower side of the cleaning device 1. The end of the suspension tool 22 on the side opposite to the moving member side can support the shaft 27 of the main body portion 20A.

[0019] The operation panel 26 receives user instructions such as the start and end of cleaning, selection of the cleaning course, setting of the injection direction of the cleaning liquid, etc.

[0020] Next, the guide rail 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide rail 10 includes a housing portion 11 and a turning portion 12.

[0021] The housing portion 11 is a portion for housing the moving member 28 inside (internally). That is, the housing portion 11 is a portion for housing the guide roller 23 inside. The cross-section of the housing portion 11 has a shape in which a part of one side of an angular annular shape is open. That is, at least a part of one side surface of the housing portion 11 is open along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 10. In FIG. 4, only the cross-section of the right guide rail 10 is shown, but the left guide rail 10 also has a structure that is symmetric about the left and right.

[0022] The turning portion 12 is a portion located at the lower part of the housing portion 11. In the cross-section shown in FIG. 4, the turning portion 12 extends downward from the lower end of the side surface opening portion of the housing portion 11, and then extends toward the outside of the cleaning device 1. The length of the turning portion 12 in the vertical direction may be shorter than the length of the housing portion 11 in the vertical direction, and the length of the turning portion 12 in the horizontal direction may be about the same as the length of the housing portion 11 in the horizontal direction. The housing portion 11 and the turning portion 12 may be integrally formed. At the position where the guide rail 10 is connected to the intermediate support 30 and the rear support 31, the guide rail 10 may be supported by connecting the lower surface of the turning portion 12 to the intermediate support 30 and the rear support 31 using a bracket or the like.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, a reinforcing member 13 is attached to at least a portion of the guide rail 10, connecting the housing portion 11 and the folded portion 12 from the outside of the guide rail 10. The reinforcing member 13 is made of a rigid metal, and materials such as aluminum or stainless steel may be used. The reinforcing member 13 may be connected to the housing portion 11 by bolts 14 and fastening parts 15. Furthermore, the reinforcing member 13 may be connected to the folded portion 12 by bolts 14 and nuts 16. When connecting the reinforcing member 13, the housing portion 11 may be provided with fastening parts 15. The fastening parts 15 are located on the outside of the housing portion 11 and have pitch holes facing outward into which bolts 14 can be tightened.

[0024] If a conventional guide rail without the reinforcing member 13 is used, the load of the cleaning unit 20 is applied to the inside and downward of the cleaning device 1 via the guide roller 23. This may cause twisting of the guide rail. Specifically, twisting may occur such that the upper part of the guide rail moves forward and the lower part of the guide rail moves backward.

[0025] In contrast, the cleaning apparatus according to this disclosure has a reinforcing member 13 attached to the guide rail 10. The rigid reinforcing member 13 connects the housing portion 11 located at the top of the guide rail 10 and the folded portion 12 located at the bottom of the guide rail 10 from the outside of the guide rail 10, thereby reducing the possibility of the top and bottom moving in opposite directions. As a result, even when the load of the cleaning unit 20 is applied to the guide rail 10, the possibility of twisting of the guide rail 10 can be reduced.

[0026] The length of the reinforcing member 13 in the front-rear direction may be such that it is long enough to reinforce a portion of the guide rail 10 in the longitudinal direction. The reinforcing member 13 may be fixed to the guide rail 10 at a total of four points: two points in the longitudinal direction with respect to the housing section 11 and two points in the longitudinal direction with respect to the folded-over section 12. This prevents the upper and lower parts of the guide rail 10, i.e., the housing section 11 and the folded-over section 12, from moving in opposite directions, thereby reducing the possibility of twisting in the guide rail 10.

[0027] Torsion can occur anywhere a load is applied, but it is particularly likely to occur in the overhang section 100. This is because the overhang section 100 is cantilevered, and the amount of torsional deformation and the angle of twist are greater towards the unsupported end.

[0028] Therefore, the reinforcing member 13 may be located on the overhang portion 100. By attaching the reinforcing member 13 to the overhang portion 100, which is prone to twisting, the possibility of twisting in the guide rail 10 can be further reduced.

[0029] Furthermore, the reinforcing member 13 may be located at the end of the range of motion in the overhang portion 100 where the cleaning unit 20 moves. According to the above, the greatest twisting occurs when the cleaning unit 20 is located at the foremost position in the overhang portion 100 within the range of motion of the cleaning unit 20. With the above configuration, the possibility of twisting occurring in the guide rail 10 can be further reduced.

[0030] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the reinforcing members 13 may be provided at multiple locations along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 10. This configuration further reduces the twisting that occurs in the guide rail 10.

[0031] Furthermore, the cross-section of the reinforcing member 13 may be an L-shaped metal fitting having an L-shape that connects the outer surface of the housing portion 11 and the bottom surface of the folded portion 12. For example, an L-angle may be used as the reinforcing member 13. With the above configuration, the possibility of twisting of the guide rail 10 can be effectively reduced with a reinforcing member 13 of a simple structure.

[0032] 〔summary〕 A cleaning device according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure is a cleaning device for cleaning a vehicle, comprising: a cleaning unit having a plurality of nozzles for spraying cleaning fluid; and a guide rail extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, supporting the cleaning unit at a position away from the mounting surface of the vehicle, and guiding the movement of the cleaning unit, wherein the guide rail has a housing portion that houses guide rollers that roll relative to the guide rail on its inner side, and at least a portion of one side along the longitudinal direction is open, and a folded portion located below the housing portion, and a reinforcing device is attached to at least a portion of the guide rail that connects the housing portion and the folded portion from the outside of the guide rail.

[0033] In the cleaning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure, in Embodiment 1, the guide rail has an overhang portion located outside the support column that supports the guide rail, and the reinforcing member is located in the overhang portion.

[0034] In the cleaning apparatus according to embodiment 3 of the present disclosure, in embodiment 1 or 2, the reinforcing member is located at the end of the range of movement in the overhang portion to which the cleaning unit moves.

[0035] In any of embodiments 1 to 3, the cleaning device according to embodiment 4 of the present disclosure is an L-shaped metal fitting that connects the outer surface of the housing portion and the bottom surface of the folded portion.

[0036] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1. Washing device 10 Guide rails 11. Storage Unit 12 Folded section 13 Reinforcements 15 Fastening part 20 Washing Units 21 Cleaning nozzle 22 Hanging equipment 23 Guide rollers 100 Overhang section X Vehicle

Claims

1. A washing device for washing vehicles, A cleaning unit having multiple nozzles for spraying cleaning solution, The vehicle comprises a guide rail that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, supports the cleaning unit at a position away from the mounting surface of the vehicle, and guides the movement of the cleaning unit, The guide rail has a housing portion that houses guide rollers that roll against the guide rail on its inner side, and at least a portion of one side along the longitudinal direction is open, and a folded portion located below the housing portion. A reinforcing member is attached to at least a portion of the guide rail, connecting the housing portion and the folding portion from the outside of the guide rail. The guide rail has an overhang portion located outside the support column that supports the guide rail, and the reinforcing member is located in the overhang portion. The reinforcing member is located at the end of the range of motion in which the cleaning unit moves within the overhang portion of the cleaning device.

2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is an L-shaped metal fitting that connects the outer surface of the housing portion and the bottom surface of the folded portion.

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